Canada's economy may be clarified by December GDP report

Statistics Canada will release December GDP on Friday, completing fourth-quarter 2025 data; Royal Bank of Canada economists forecast a 0.2 per cent increase for December.

Statistics Canada will publish December's GDP report on Friday, completing fourth-quarter 2025 figures. The release is expected to show the full-year impact of U.S. tariffs and trade tensions that affected 2025. Royal Bank of Canada economists Nathan Janzen and Claire Fan forecast a 0.2 per cent gain in December GDP. Analysts continue to describe the outlook for 2026 as uncertain. Key developments: - Statistics Canada will release December GDP on Friday, concluding Q4 2025 data. - RBC economists forecast a 0.2 per cent increase in December GDP. - Monthly figures showed zero per cent growth in November after a 0.3 per cent drop in October. - Third-quarter 2025 GDP rose 2.6 per cent annualized, which meant Canada avoided a recession. Summary: The December GDP report is expected to provide the clearest official view of how 2025 ended and to help measure the effects of tariffs and trade disruption on the economy. The immediate next step is the Statistics Canada release on Friday, and outlooks for 2026 remain uncertain.